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Present Aquaculture Practices and Livelihood of Fishers at Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

M. M. Hossain
Assistant Professor
Department of Fisheries Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The professions of the respondents were agriculture (45%), government-nongovernment and private services (19%), business (12%), day labourer (9%), fishermen (4%), fish farmers and traders (4%) and other (7%). 50.94% households owned at least one pond and 23.76% owned two or more ponds. 73.92% households did not use their ponds for commercial fish culture, 21.17% moderately used and only 4.91% commercially used their ponds for fish culture. Farmers did not use fish feeds as the requirement of fish, as a result the production performance were unsatisfactory. The average productions of pangas, tilapia and carps were 2200 kg, 3000 kg and 1800 kg ha^-1y^-1 respectively. In the open water, fishermen used various types of nets (e.g. current jal, moiya jal, thella jal, behundi jal, saine jal, air jal, jhaki jal), chai, borshi and long line for fishing depending on the season, water level and rainfall. Though the Patuakhali region is enrich with water resources both natural open waters and manmade ponds but fish production is poor comparing some other regions of the country. This is mainly due to poor communication facilities, natural disasters and absence of appropriate aquaculture technologies. As a result people are relatively poor, vulnerable and deprived from better livelihood.

Keywords: Aquaculture practice, Fishing, Livelihood

Location: Dumki upazila

Start Date: 01-05-2013

End Date: 31-10-2013

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

The objectives of the present study are to observe the aquaculture practices and culture constraints and to assess the problems of sustainable livelihood of fishers and associated groups in Dumki upazila, Patuakhali, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study was undertaken at Dumki upazila covering an area of 92.41square kilometer with 5 unions and 24 villages in Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. This upazila is very important for aquaculture farming due to favorable resources and climatic conditions.Primary data were gathered by field surveys in terms of fish culture, feeding, fertilization, production including constraints and data for production cost and profitability were collected over a 6-months period, from May to October 2013. A combination of the following participatory, qualitative and quantitative methods was used for primary data collection.

Participatory rural appraisal (PRA)

For this study, the PRA tool focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with the fishermen including women and children. Focus group discussion was used to obtain an overview of fishing, utilization of gear and craft, fishing season, availability of fish, marketing system, fishing problem, income source, main profession and fishermen’s livelihood. A total of 12 FGD sessions were conducted where each group size was 5-7 persons (total 75 fishermen) and the duration of each session was approximately 2h. Focus group discussion sessions were held in river side tree shades and in front of village shops wherever there were spontaneous gatherings and where participants could sit, feel comfortable and were easily observed.

Questionnaire interviews

For questionnaire interviews, household farmers were selected through simple random sampling. A total of 1170 farmers, day labourers, drivers, fish farmers, businessmen, NGO workers, and teachers’ household data were collected. Questionnaire interviews were focused on fish culture, feeding and fertilization, productivity, culture system, culture constraints, production costs, return and profitability, marketing process, agricultural crop production, poultry farms, daily income and life of the farmers.

Data analysis

Data from questionnaire interviews were coded and entered into a database system using Microsoft Excel software. A statistical method ‘Statistical Package for Social Science’ was used to analyze the data, producing descriptive statistics.

Source of Information: J. Patuakhali Sci. and Tech. Univ. 2014, 5(1): 1-10

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. University Grant Commission

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From this study, it becomes clear that the aquaculture practise at Dumki is unscientific and fish seeds, feeds, fertilizers and management system are not maintained properly, as a result production performance are not satisfactory. A range of public and private sector investments and partnership initiatives are needed for sustainable increased fish production. Moreover, institutional and organizational support is essential for sustainable production.It is remaining untouched with modern technologies of aquaculture and most of the people of this region are very poor, vulnerable and severely deprived from better livelihoods. Generally the people in the central coastal region of Bangladesh are idle and are not industrial. It might be the mentality of local people, lack of business policy, low income generation, lack of good communication and transport facilities and destruction of assets by natural disaster.

Knowledge Management: Journal, Report/Proceedings